The Daily Life of a Concubine's Daughter After Transmigrating

Li Anqi was taken aback, then shook her head and said, "I have not received any of what you mentioned, Lord Marquis. However, I did receive a purple-tipped writing brush earlier, which I heard was a gift from you, Lord Marquis."

Tu Bofu frowned, a hint of doubt creeping into his expression: "The Purple Hair Brush? I did indeed send one, but that was just one of many."

Where did all the other things go?

Li Anqi smiled calmly, his tone indifferent:

"I appreciate your kindness, Lord Marquis. However, that purple writing brush looks like an old item used by a woman. If I'm not mistaken, it should be a keepsake of Lady Tong, the Marquis's wife?"

Upon hearing this, Tu Bofu's expression changed slightly, and a complex look flashed in his eyes.

He paused for a moment before whispering, "Your Majesty's eyes are indeed discerning; that purple-tipped brush truly belonged to my deceased wife. I... I simply felt that Your Majesty bore a resemblance to my late wife, therefore..."

Li Anqi interrupted him, her tone gentle yet tinged with stubbornness:

“My lord, the deceased are gone, and the living should cherish the present. If Lady Tong is watching from heaven, she would surely not want to see you dwelling on the past. I will send someone to return this purple brush to you tomorrow, so that it may be returned to its rightful owner.”

Tu Bofu looked somewhat dazed. He lowered his head and sighed after a long while, "Your Majesty is right. I was being presumptuous."

Li Anqi nodded slightly, her tone unchanged: "My lord, there's no need to take it to heart. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."

Tu Bofu did not try to stop him, but watched Li Anqi leave, his eyes filled with lingering affection and reluctance.

Once inside the carriage driven by Xiao Shunzi, Li Anqi breathed a sigh of relief, but his heart was not much lighter.

She turned to look at Zhilan and asked in a low voice, "What do you think of what happened today?"

Zhilan frowned: "Your Highness, Lord Tu's feelings for you are probably not simple. As for those gifts, Your Highness did not receive them. It is likely that the Prince found out and intercepted them."

Li Anqi nodded, a hint of annoyance flashing in his eyes:

"Since Ling Luo intercepted it, he must have guessed something. I will handle things on his end."

"As for Marquis Jichang... if he continues to pester me, I will have no choice but to find another way."

"Return the purple brush to the Marquis of Jichang's residence tomorrow."

Zhilan replied softly, "Yes."

……

Li Anqi got off the car and went to Yishan Hall.

The courtyard was quiet, as if no one was there.

Just as Li Anqi stepped into the courtyard gate with a sense of confusion, he suddenly heard a chorus of children's voices—

"Happy New Year, Your Majesty the Chess Consort!"

She was startled and looked up to see a dozen children lined up in two rows in the yard, holding up red paper cutouts of various patterns and shapes, smiling brightly at her.

Shan Xingwen stood among the children, dressed in a snow-white long robe, still exuding an ethereal beauty.

He smiled and said, "Your Majesty has come at the perfect time. The children have specially prepared paper-cuttings for you. Take a look."

Li Anqi felt a warmth in his heart, and the corners of his lips unconsciously turned up. He carefully examined each paper-cut he placed in his palm.

It turns out that Shan Xingwen arrived a little early today to give her this surprise with the children.

She knelt down and said softly, "They look beautiful. Thank you. I've also brought you gifts."

Zhilan and Xiaoshunzi immediately distributed the prepared small bundles to the children, which contained newly tailored winter clothes, pastries, and trinkets.

The children cheered and rushed over to thank him.

Looking at their innocent and cheerful smiles, Li Anqi felt that the heavy sense of oppression in his heart had been somewhat relieved.

But just as she stood up, she caught a glimpse of a small, thin figure standing in the corner—a girl of about ten years old, wearing a clean and decent old jacket, clutching a book tightly in her hand, but not going forward to receive the gift, just watching her from afar.

That's Ran Yi.

Li Anqi walked over slowly and asked her softly, "Yi'er, why aren't you going to get your gift?"

Ran Yiba looked up at Li Anqi and suddenly asked, "Empress Qi, are you unhappy?"

Li Anqi was taken aback.

Ran Yi stared into her eyes and said seriously, "Although you are smiling, there is no smile in your eyes at all."

Li Anqi was speechless.

Dan Xingwen sighed, reached out and ruffled Ran Yi's hair, and said gently, "Go and get your gift."

Ran Yi nodded, turned and ran away, but still couldn't help but look back at Li Anqi.

Only Li Anqi and Shan Xingwen remained nearby.

Dan Xingwen asked considerately, "Your Majesty, have you encountered any trouble lately?"

“…” Li Anqi remained silent and shook his head.

Looking at Li Anqi's silent profile, Shan Xingwen felt a pang of heartache in his eyes.

He said softly, "If Your Majesty has something on your mind, you might as well speak it out. Keeping it inside will only harm your health."

Li Anqi gazed at the children playing in the distance, forcing a smile: "I'm fine, it's just..."

She paused, then lowered her voice, "I just didn't sleep well."

“If Ninth Prince were alive, he would certainly not want to see His Highness so despondent.” Shan Xingwen’s voice was soft, but every word was clear. “His greatest wish in life was for His Highness to be safe and happy.”

Li Anqi's heart skipped a beat, and a hint of tears welled up in his eyes.

She had so much to say and so many questions to ask, but in the end, she suppressed her surging emotions deep within her heart.

"It's all in the past, don't mention him again."